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☆ A myth about Irish immigrants who came to the US during the potato famine gets debunked in a new book
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Catherine E. Shoichet | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

In part, that was because it was just impossible to trace Irish famine immigrants and find out what had happened to them. This is just inconceivable to anyone who had ever thought about the famine Irish given the obstacles that faced them. Biden is one of four US presidents who descended from Irish famine immigrants. The famine immigrants really were the ones who cemented the idea of the American Dream as we understand it today. At the time, the neighborhood was home to the more Irish immigrants than any other part of the city.

Persons: CNN — Tyler Anbinder didn’t, Anbinder, Martin Scorsese, ”, …, “ It’s, ” Anbinder, Richard Ljoenes, —, ’, Patrick’s, there’s, “, Michael Sullivan, they’re, Biden, Obama, Reagan, Kennedy, Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, He’s, Pope, I, ” Biden doesn’t, George Washington, There’s, you’ve, Alderman John Barry’s, Tyler, Tyler Anbinder, he'd, Chris Langford, can’t, United States —, John Carlin, saloonkeepers, Saint Louis Organizations: CNN, Emigrant Savings Bank, New York Public Library, Irish, George Washington University, St, they’re Catholic, London, Hulton, Murphys, Reuters, New York Tribune, George Washington Bridge, New York Central Railroad, York, New York Public Locations: New York, York, United States, America, Europe, Liverpool, Ireland, County Mayo, Rome, Irish, Manhattan, Yorkers, New, New York City, Chicago, California, Minnesota, Saint

☆ ‘Nick Drake’ Review: Troubadour of Desolation
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-02 | by ( Tim Page | Richard Morton Jack | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Nick Drake in 1969. Photo: Estate Of Keith Morris/RedfernsThe wistful, haunted English singer-songwriter Nick Drake (1948-74) had one of the strangest careers in the history of pop music, almost all of it posthumous. Grab a Copy Nick Drake: The Life By Richard Morton Jack Hachette Books 576 pages We may earn a commission when you buy products through the links on our site. Buy Book Amazon Barnes & Noble Books a Million BookshopFor the first quarter-century after Drake’s death—at age 26, from a drug overdose—his three difficult-to-find LPs were cherished by tiny groups of listeners who loved his gentle, ghostly voice, his distinctive mixture of folk and jazz stylings, and his elliptical lyrics. These qualities combined to evoke a sense of profound—and increasingly unreachable—melancholy, yet the best songs were also so seductively pretty that they were curiously soothing.

Persons: Nick Drake, Keith Morris, Richard Morton Jack Hachette, Barnes Organizations: Noble

NEW YORK (AP) — The head of Hachette Book Group, Michael Pietsch, is retiring as CEO and will be succeeded by Hachette UK CEO David Shelley. Pietsch, who has worked with authors ranging from Keith Richards to Donna Tartt, will serve as chairman of the U.S. publisher starting Jan. 1 of next year. “I’m proud of everything that all of us at Hachette Book Group have accomplished in the past decade, in close partnership with our authors — thriving, growing, and reinventing ourselves through complex and challenging times," Pietsch, 67, said in a statement Tuesday. Shelley, who will also remain as UK CEO, said in a statement that “Hachette Book Group publishes some of my favorite authors of all time and it’s hugely exciting to be able to get to know them and work on their books with the talented team in the U.S. I’d like to pay special tribute to Michael as he has been a key figure for me over the years.”Richard Kitson, deputy CEO of Hachette UK, will also take on the same role for Hachette Book Group. Along with publishing Richards' “Life,” Tartt's “The Goldfinch” and James Patterson's many blockbusters, Pietsch also was involved with a book Hachette didn't release.

Persons: Michael Pietsch, David Shelley, Pietsch, Keith Richards, Donna Tartt, “ I’m, Shelley, Michael, ” Richard Kitson, Brown, Richards, ”, James Patterson's, Woody Allen's, Ronan Farrow, Allen's, Allen, Dylan Farrow Organizations: Hachette Book, Hachette UK, Hachette, Hachette Livre, Little, Company, Workman Publishing, Hyperion Books, Skyhorse Publishing Locations: U.S

For Lol Tolhurst, co-founder the influential “goth” band The Cure, it's all of the above. He explores what he calls “the last true alternative outsider subculture” in a new book titled, “Goth: A History,” published late last month by Hachette. From there, the book dives into gothic literature and the French existentialists, whom Tolhurst considers formative to the subculture. LA was also home to the psych rock band the Doors, who were the first group described as “gothic rock" — by critic John Stickney in 1967. Elsewhere, he draws connections between goth and Catholicism, a relationship Tolhurst believes goes beyond a shared iconography and morbidity.

Persons: Tim Burton, Billie Eilish, Edgar Allan Poe's, Mary, Emily Brontë, Lol Tolhurst, “, ”, Tolhurst, It's, Joan Didion —, Nico, David Bowie, Molchat, Iggy Pop, Peter Murphy, tickling, John Stickney, everything's Organizations: ANGELES, Hachette, Joy Division, Bauhaus Locations: Southern California, London, Belarusian, New York City, England, Los Angeles, LA

☆ Opinion | Vivek Ramaswamy Is a LinkedIn Post Come to Life
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Farhad Manjoo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Last year, for a column I was writing about the power that large asset managers like BlackRock and Vanguard exert over the global economy, I called up Vivek Ramaswamy. Today, I mostly don’t even use that word anymore; it’s not part of my vernacular today. I just wanted you to know that, since I saw you mused about the etymology of the title in your piece. It certainly wasn’t cooked up in a Fox News lab, and in all honesty the goal wasn’t to trigger anyone. but that he represents a distinct, very familiar flavor of irritation: He’s the epitome of millennial hustle culture, less a Tracy Flick know-it-all than a viral LinkedIn post come to life.

Persons: Vivek Ramaswamy, Ramaswamy, I’m, ”, “, it’s, aren’t, Tracy Flick Organizations: BlackRock, Vanguard, Inc, Fox News, Republican, LinkedIn Locations: Silicon

☆ Jeffrey Epstein had dinner scheduled with legendary talk show host Dick Cavett, email records show
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Dick Cavett was scheduled to dine with Jeffrey Epstein in February 2012. Their mutual friend Woody Allen, Soon-Yi Previn, and a Bill Gates advisor were also listed as attendees. Woody Allen, his wife Soon-Yi Previn, and Bill Gates advisor Boris Nikolic were also scheduled to be present, according to the email. At the time of the scheduled dinner, Epstein had registered as a sex offender following his guilty plea, in 2007, on prostitution solicitation charges in Florida. Nikolic had numerous scheduled meetings with Epstein between 2012 and 2015, the email records show.

Persons: Dick Cavett, Jeffrey Epstein, Woody Allen, Yi Previn, Bill Gates, Epstein, —, Lesley Groff, Boris Nikolic, Groff, Morgan Chase, It's, Cavett, Allen, Epstein's, Annie Hall, Dylan Farrow, Allen's, lowlifes, Nikolic, JP Morgan Organizations: Service, Virgin Islands, Virgin, ABC, Twitter, Hachette Book Locations: Virgin, Manhattan, Florida

☆ TikTok loves book 'tropes' and authors are feeling the pressure to use them as the platform becomes a powerful marketing tool
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A common way to quickly discuss book plots on TikTok is through tropes, or specific themes that recur in many stories. The focus on tropes has to do with the short nature of videos on TikTok, creators told Insider. The success of tropes puts pressure on authors to try themFor authors, seeing these types of plots find success on the platform can be a double-edged sword. She decided to try writing a romance novel incorporating popular tropes like "enemies to lovers." Some creators worry the focus on tropes on TikTok may be limiting authors' visions.

☆ TikTok has influenced nearly every aspect of book publishing and helped push sales to record highs. 25 insiders describe how it's changed their industry.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Marta Biino | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

The BookTok phenomenon helped send book sales to an all-time high and reignite a love for reading. From authors to stores, the book world is turning to TikTok to drive sales and build community. Still, while authors might feel pressure to try TikTok, industry experts say it's better to focus on craft than marketing. Aster is one of the hundreds of authors who are benefitting from the success of TikTok and its book-related hashtag #BookTok. But TikTok's influence on publishing has also dialed up the pressure on authors to be marketers, as well as writers.

☆ Exclusive: Vivendi set to win EU green light for Lagardere deal, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] The logo of French media giant Vivendi is seen in Paris, France, January 31, 2022. REUTERS/Violeta Santos MouraBRUSSELS, April 19 (Reuters) - French media conglomerate Vivendi (VIV.PA) is set to win EU antitrust approval to buy Lagardere (LAGA.PA) after its offer to sell Editis and celebrity magazine Gala managed to address competition concerns, people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday. The European Commission, which is scheduled to decide on the deal by June 14, declined to comment. Vivendi, controlled by billionaire Vincent Bollore, announced the deal last year which would give it control of Lagardere's flagship weekly publications Journal du Dimanche (JDD) and Paris Match. Vivendi is now in talks to sell its publishing division Editis to billionaire Daniel Kretinsky after EU competition enforcers voiced concerns about Lagardere unit Hachette, the world's third-biggest publishing group.

☆ Vivendi to sell celebrity magazine Gala to win EU approval for Lagardere bid -source
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, April 11 (Reuters) - French media giant Vivendi (VIV.PA) is set to commit to selling celebrity magazine Gala in a bid to win the European Commission's approval for the acquisition of Lagardere (LAGA.PA), a source close to the matter said on Tuesday. The commitment to the European Commission's antitrust services will be made on Wednesday, the source added. The pledged sale of Gala would be the latest remedy offered by Vivendi, controlled by billionaire Vincent Bollore, as it seeks to secure the takeover of Lagardere's flagship weekly publications Journal du Dimanche (JDD) and Paris Match. Last month Vivendi said it was in talks to sell its publishing division Editis to billionaire Daniel Kretinsky to allay EU antitrust worries, as Lagardere is home to Hachette, the world's third-biggest publishing group. Reporting by Kate Entringer; writing by Mathieu Rosemain; editing by Kirsten Donovan and Jason NeelyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

REUTERS/Stefan WermuthMarch 25 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge has ruled that an online library operated by the nonprofit organization Internet Archive infringed the copyrights of four major U.S. publishers by lending out digitally scanned copies of their books. The San Francisco-based non-profit over the past decade has scanned millions of print books and lent out the digital copies for free. But Koeltl said there was nothing "transformative" about Internet Archive's digital book copies that would warrant "fair use" protection, as its e-books merely replaced the authorized copies publishers themselves license to traditional libraries. "Although IA has the right to lend print books it lawfully acquired, it does not have the right to scan those books and lend the digital copies en masse," he wrote. Internet Archive promised an appeal, saying the ruling "holds back access to information in the digital age, harming all readers, everywhere."

REUTERS/Stefan WermuthMarch 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Friday ruled that an online library operated by the nonprofit organization Internet Archive had infringed the copyrights of four major U.S. publishers by lending out digitally scanned copies of the books. The San Francisco-based non-profit over the past decade has scanned millions of print books and lent out the resulted digital copies for free. But Koeltl said there was nothing "transformative" about the Internet Archive's digital book copies that would warrant "fair use" protection, as its ebooks merely replaced the authorized copies publishers themselves license traditional libraries. "Although IA has the right to lend print books it lawfully acquired, it does not have the right to scan those books and lend the digital copies en masse," he wrote. The Internet Archive in a statement promised an appeal, saying the ruling "holds back access to information in the digital age, harming all readers, everywhere."

☆ Mistakes by the US's top spies allowed China to turn a deadly mid-air collision into an intelligence coup
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( James Bamford | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +36 min

On April 1, 2001, a US EP-3 spy plane collided with a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea. One of eleven left in the fleet, the tired 1960s-era spy plane bristled with porcupine-like antennas. Within minutes, however, the fighters had reached the lumbering spy plane, and while Zhao Yu hung back about a half-mile, Wang Wei rapidly closed in. In severe trouble, he immediately radioed the base, telling them he was unable to maneuver and being sucked in by the spy plane. "You are not allowed aboard the aircraft," Osborn said.

☆ Inside the private meeting at Jack Ma's apartment where he plotted to take on Silicon Valley with a trusted 'ragtag bunch' of early employees
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Brian A. Wong | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

In one apartment, Jack, Lucy Peng, and a few other leaders worked alongside the firm's engineers. Everyone's enthusiasm flowed from their strong identification with the company's mission and Jack's vision, and if it was part of our mission, all believed, it was certainly achievable. In fact, in time, I would grow to better understand and more deeply embrace Alibaba's mission, vision, and values and the way they motivated our people. That's what Savio Kwan, Alibaba's first COO, did, codifying Jack's ideas into our company mission, vision, and values. Their efforts would form the basis of Alibaba's core mission, vision, and values statement— the guiding force or beliefs for Alibaba's development then and now.

☆ How China planted an FBI mole who was discovered only after gutting the CIA's vast spy network
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( James Bamford | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +25 min

At the time, four years after the handover from Britain to China, much of Hong Kong remained a world of neon and noise. "Five years ago, everyone looked down on you if you spoke Mandarin," said a Beijing executive living in Hong Kong. As soon as the Hong Kong Arts Festival ended, the Hong Kong International Film Festival began. In February 2006, Alex Ma, China's mole in the FBI, sent David photos he received from his handlers of five suspected human sources. Born in Hong Kong like Alex, Lee grew up in Hawaii and became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

☆ James Patterson to Complete Unfinished Michael Crichton Book
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

James Patterson is one of the most successful authors in the U.S. Author James Patterson says he has always been a fan of the late thriller writer Michael Crichton . Now he is going to finish writing one of Mr. Crichton’s books. The untitled novel, based on a partially finished manuscript provided by Mr. Crichton’s estate, is expected to be published in 2024 by Little, Brown & Co., an imprint of Lagardère SCA’s Hachette Book Group.

☆ Elon Musk’s Twitter Takeover Is in Its Early Chapters, But a Book Is Already Coming
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Elon Musk is just weeks into his ownership of Twitter—yet a new book about the billionaire’s takeover of the social platform is already in the works. “Breaking Twitter” is expected to be published next fall by Grand Central Publishing, a unit of Lagardère SCA’s Hachette Book Group.

☆ Exclusive: Vivendi-Lagardere deal faces full-scale EU antitrust probe - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Foo Yun Chee | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Media group Vivendi's (VIV.PA) proposed acquisition of rival Lagardere is likely to face a full-scale EU antitrust investigation, people close to the matter said on Tuesday. The proposed deal would combine France's two biggest publishing groups, Lagardere's Hachette and Vivendi's Editis, and has come in for criticism from rivals including renowned peer Gallimard. The European Commission is expected to launch an in-depth investigation after finishing its preliminary review of the deal on Nov. 30, the sources said. The EU competition enforcer and Vivendi declined to comment. The mass media holding company already owns 57% of Lagardere after a bid for all of the group's shares.

☆ Penguin Random House scraps $2.2 bln deal to merge with Simon & Schuster
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Gabriel Araujo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Penguin Random House, the world's largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster have scrapped a $2.2 billion deal to merge, Penguin owner Bertelsmann (BTGGg.F) said in a statement. But Bertelsmann said in a statement on Monday that it "will advance the growth of its global book publishing business without the previously planned merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster." Paramount said on Monday that Simon & Schuster was a "non-core asset" to Paramount. Penguin writers include cookbook author Ina Garten and novelists Zadie Smith and Danielle Steele, while Simon & Schuster publishes Stephen King, Jennifer Weiner and Hillary Rodham Clinton, among others. The top five publishers are Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and Hachette, with Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) also in the market.

Many were especially wary of Penguin Random House — already by far the largest publisher in the United States — getting even bigger by absorbing a rival. Penguin Random House has about 100 imprints; together they publish more than 2,000 titles a year. The merger would have given it Simon & Schuster’s approximately 50 imprints, as well as the company’s vast and valuable backlist of older titles. “The market is already too consolidated,” said Mary Rasenberger, chief executive of the Authors Guild, an advocacy group for writers that opposed the purchase. The company’s recent performance has been strong, even as the results have sagged at other major publishers.

Persons: Simon, Schuster —, United States —, Schuster’s, ”, Mary Rasenberger, Simon & Schuster Organizations: Random, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Hachette, Penguin, United States, Justice Department, Guild, Simon & Locations: United

The top five U.S. publishers are Penguin, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and Hachette. Following a collapse of the deal, Paramount will be free to explore a sale of Simon & Schuster anew. Previously known as ViacomCBS, Paramount had inked the Penguin deal so it could focus on its video and streaming businesses. HarperCollins, which is controlled by News Corp (NWSA.O), and Lagardere SCA's (LAGA.PA) Hachette Book Group have previously expressed interest publicly in buying Simon & Schuster. HarperCollins also unsuccessfully bid for Simon & Schuster when it was put up for sale by Paramount in early 2020.

Penguin was unable to convince Simon & Schuster to launch an appeal and extend their deal contract before it expires on Monday, the sources said. Penguin will owe Simon & Schuster a $200 million break-up fee as a result of the transaction falling apart. Following the deal's collapse, Simon & Schuster's owner, Paramount Global (PARA.O), will be free to explore a sale of the publisher anew. HarperCollins, which is controlled by News Corp (NWSA.O), and Lagardere SCA's (LAGA.PA) Hachette Book Group have previously expressed interest publicly in buying Simon & Schuster. HarperCollins also unsuccessfully bid for Simon & Schuster when it was put up for sale by Paramount in early 2020.

WASHINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge cited negative impacts on top-selling authors in blocking a planned $2.2 billion merger of Penguin Random House, the world's largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster, according to a written opinion released Monday. Penguin is owned by German media group Bertelsmann SE & Co (BTGGg.F) while Paramount Global (PARA.O) owns Simon & Schuster. Pan said those best-selling authors "have fewer outlets that can satisfy their requirements, and therefore are vulnerable to anticompetitive behavior." Penguin writers include cookbook author Ina Garten and novelists Zadie Smith and Danielle Steele, while Simon & Schuster publishes Stephen King, Jennifer Weiner and Hillary Rodham Clinton, among others. The top five publishers are Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and Hachette, with Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) also in the market.

WASHINGTON, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A planned $2.2 billion merger of Penguin Random House, the world's largest book publisher, and rival Simon & Schuster cannot go forward, a U.S. judge ruled on Monday. Unlike most merger fights, which are focused on what consumers pay, this one focused on authors' earnings. Penguin writers include cookbook author Ina Garten and novelists Zadie Smith and Danielle Steele, while Simon & Schuster publishes Stephen King, Jennifer Weiner and Hillary Rodham Clinton, among others. Penguin is owned by German media group Bertelsmann SE & Co (BTGGg.F) while Paramount Global (PARA.O) owns Simon & Schuster. The top five publishers are Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster and Hachette, with Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) also in the market.

This piece has been adapted from "We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ushered in a New Era of American Extremism," by Andy Campbell. Indeed, leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys extremist groups face seditious conspiracy charges over what the Justice Department believes is an outsize role in the planning and execution of the insurrection. In an interview with me, one of the antifascists, a woman who supports medics in the field at demonstrations, recalled a harrowing scene in which a group of Proud Boys had her crew cornered and outnumbered, when one of them lunged at her:The Proud Boys started spraying something into the crowd. Those concerns are paramount for all antifascist activists, but especially among women fighting back against misogynist groups like the Proud Boys. Excerpted from "We Are Proud Boys: How a Right-Wing Street Gang Ushered in a New Era of American Extremism by Andy Campbell.

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